How to play PIZZICATO

Pizzicato is a term used to describe when you pluck the strings on a string instrument using your right or left hand fingers. To get a better sound while playing pizzicato apply more pressure to the left hand fingers than you normally do. Applying too little pressure dampens the vibrations of the string. Pizzicato can be played with either hand and with several fingers. It can be played alternating the fingers from both hands and can even be played with the left hand while fingering. The most common way to hold the bow when playing pizz is to grip it securely with your fist so as not to drop it and to secure the thumb to the corner of the fingerboard as a guide to find the notes. To play a more careful and soft pizzicato draw your hand forward while pulling across the string. SEE THE VIDEO

More tutorials available at: Fiddlerman.com

How to remain motivated

How do you stay motivated?

It can be tempting to neglect your instrument and do something more enjoyable for the moment such as watching a movie, hanging out on Facebook, playing online games, or perhaps taking an unnecessary nap. Here are a few tips to help you stay motivated.

• Leave your instrument out in plain site.
• Listen to great music and performances.
• Read through new pieces of music.
• Find play along recordings or music to jam with.
• Plan a performance.
• Find a friend to play duets with.
• Find musicians to motivate you on a forum or other social network.
• Enroll in a competition.
• Plan a chamber music party or jam session.
• Record yourself.
• Join a community orchestra.
• Find friends with mutual interests.
• Set specific goals for your instrument.
• Get a teacher. If you don’t have time for lessons every week, maybe every other week.

DETACHE

Fiddlermans latest video - DETACHE
http://fiddlerman.com/tutorials/advanced-tutorials/detache/

Pure detache is a form of bowing in which you play non-accented even notes. In order to achieve a good detache you need to train your finger tips to be flexible and to follow the hand in the same way as a paint brush flows on a surface. Practice changing bow direction while hearing as little of the bow change as possible. 

Detache sec is a strong accented bowing. Petit detache is a short accented bowing usually played at the tip. Grand detache is a strong and full, long accented bowing. Detache simply means detached.

More tutorials on Fiddlerman.com

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Visit Fiddlerman.com and start learning to play violin for free.

Finger and hand vibrato on the violin

Watch Fiddlermans latest video on finger and hand vibrato.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2K2fcTYdQzI

Finger vibrato is very useful when playing 16th notes that need color.
It is a combination of wrist and finger, back and forth quick motion. It is important to allow the first and second finger joint to be flexible, curve, and straighten.  Your finger tip should roll back and forth smoothly and evenly. Vibratos should vary in speed, width and intensity depending on the type of music being performed and desired flexibility. Apply more weight to the left side of your left hand fingers for better strength and angles.

New sheet music on Fiddlermans SHEET MUSIC page

New sheet music on Fiddlermans SHEET MUSIC page
http://fiddlerman.com/studies-etudes-and-music/
Now a days - you can find fantastic sheet music for free made available to us by public domain copyright laws. You may download, copy and print any of the free violin sheet music on Fiddlermans site. The files are in PDF format which means that you need a program such as Adobe Reader or Preview (Mac) to view and print. To download, right click on the file and choose Save Linked File to ” ” and choose your favorite location.

Learn to play jazz on the violin or fiddle

When practicing scales for jazz, do not play even eighth notes. “Swing” the eighth notes by playing the 1st eighth as 2 tied triplets and the next as the following triplet in a beat.
The importance of playing scales on an instrument can be compared to lifting weights for a human body. Become so familiar with the scales that you do not need to think. Practice them in both directions and different tempos.
Check out fiddlerman's new free jazz scales and studies.
More to come soon.